Added-value villas around the world

Our leading villa experts select 20 of their favourite places to rent on holiday, from a country casa in Uruguay to a chic beach house in Byron Bay. By Sophie Butler

VILLA SELENE: A Greek island villa[/b] Anna Deimezi and her business partner Dimitris Giannakopoulos are based in Athens and manage a portfolio of 130 villas in 25 Greek destinations. 'We stay in all the properties to test beds, showers and the facilities a guest will use,' says Deimezi. 'We have to kiss a lot of frogs to find the right princes.' Each property is managed by a specially trained housekeeper; about a third have professional chefs and hosts (which can also be arranged for the remainder); all have sea views and are close to beaches.

Villa Selene is a fabulous new addition on the quiet island of Kea, an hour by ferry from Lavrio (near Athens) and close to a sand beach at Kabi. Built of local stone, the house sleeps 10 adults and four children, and has contemporary interiors and a sophisticated entertainment system. There are superb sea views from the pool deck. Added value A daily maid service and 24-hour private concierge to book yachts, restaurants, yoga classes and any other requirements. Price From £682 to £995 per person per week, based on 14 sharing

VILLA FAWN: a beach villa in Cape Town Therese Botha restricts her portfolio of 'very smart' villas to 35 and more affordable options to 90 (including apartments). The locations span southern Africa (in particular the Western Cape), Mauritius and the Seychelles and her standards are exacting. 'I'm extremely fussy myself so I vet every property personally,' she says.

Villa Fawn in Clifton, Cape Town, is her latest example of an affordable beach villa. It has two main bedrooms (one screened from the open- plan living area) plus a smaller room, fabulous sea views and a lawned garden. The interiors are modern with a steel-built kitchen, wood floors and vast floor-to-ceiling windows. Added value The free concierge service will book nannies, chefs, wine tours and safaris. Housekeeping Monday to Saturday is included. Price From 5,040 rand (about £410) to about £1,315 per person per week, based on five sharing

THE RED HOUSE: A country casa in Uruguay Steven Chew first fell in love with South America at the age of 21; he eventually bought a small farm in Venezuela and did various jobs, including mountain guiding, before setting up his beach-villa company seven years ago. Chew's company represents 50 properties, from trendy seaside shacks to large coastal mansions; most are in Brazil, with a growing number in Uruguay.

New this year is The Red House in the tiny Uruguayan village of Garzón, 15 miles inland from the stealth-wealth beach resort of José Ignacio. The former ghost town (which has 160 residents) was put on the map by top Argentine chef Francis Mallmann, who opened an elegant five-bedroom hotel and restaurant there. The villa, which sleeps six in three bedrooms, exudes chic rusticity, with antique furniture, wood beams and stone floors. There is a large garden with a pool. The best time to visit is November to April. Added value The rate includes a chef Price From £744 per person per week, based on six sharing (peak price on application)

VILLA DEL ARCO: An 18th-century mansion on Capri[/b] You can expect high standards and kid-glove service at any of Reversade's 100 properties, but Villa del Arco is a particularly exciting new addition to his collection. 'Now, for the first time, I can offer a truly beautiful, five-star villa on Capri,' Cedric Reversade says. 'And it is within walking distance of Via Tragara, the shopping and restaurant area where everyone wants to be.'

More than 200 years old, this distinctive, wine-red villa is on a high point of the island with views of the sea and mountains. It was recently renovated by its Caprese owners, sleeps 12 and has a sauna and gym, making it a good choice for a family or group of friends. The best place to enjoy the view is from the roof terrace with its Jacuzzi and open-air fireplace. An English-speaking concierge will book boat trips, restaurants and other activities in the area. Added value: The villa comes with full-time staff, including a butler and cook Price From £2,364 per person per week, based on 14 sharing (peak price on application)

VILLA A SULANA: A tranquil bolthole on Corsica 'When I rent villas for my own summer holidays, I note all the plus and minus points on the back of an envelope,' says Andy Sturt. Consequently, his collection of 25 properties on Mallorca, Ibiza and Corsica, built up over five years, is based on his personal wish list. Factors include good views, privacy and bread delivery. Flexible childcare and chef services are also available ('I love my children and I love cooking, but I love to have a break from both occasionally,' he says).

Villa A Sulana, which sleeps eight in three bedrooms and a separate garden suite, is stone-built and filled with nautical touches; there are spectacular sea views from the garden, pool and Jacuzzi. Rondinara beach is a 10-minute drive away; Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio less than 25 minutes. Added value Car hire, flights, welcome hamper, daily bread (except Monday), weekly linen and maid/concierge services are all included. Price From £646 to £1,186 per person per week, based on eight sharing

An estate house on CorfuVilla expert Ileana von Hirsch Ileana von Hirsch has been renting some of the best and most exclusive properties in Greece for over a decade. She is now looking to cut her portfolio by a third to around 80 prime properties. One villa she is keeping on her books is The Estate House on north-east Corfu. Sleeping 14 in seven bedrooms, it is on a five-acre headland with direct access to the rocky shore and swimming platforms. Constructed of stone by local craftsmen, the villa has large French windows opening onto a broad terrace with views to the distant Albanian mountains. There is a fabulous pool and well-equipped pool house, a Moroccan-style relaxation area and a barbecue. A neighbouring lodge, which sleeps six, can be rented separately. ADDED VALUE The services of a housekeeper and handyman, and a concierge is on call six days a week. A chef costs extra. Price From £1,321 per person per week based on 14 sharing (peak price on application)

CREST: A dude ranch in Colorado Over the past two decades, Maxine Harrison's portfolio has expanded to 275 villas in Europe, the Americas, Caribbean, Africa and the Far East. 'Secretly I've always wanted to be a cowgirl, so I'm delighted by my latest addition: a luxury ranch near Granby which has taken guests since 1919.'

The accommodation varies from two-person cabins to family-sized villas, all very private with views across horse-grazing meadows to the Rocky Mountains. The decoration is in sophisticated Western style (wood floors and furnishings, leather sofas, hot tub) and there's communal dining for up to 85 guests in the main lodge. The young staff (most in their early 20s) make guests feel at home, with fun daily diversions for children such as mini-rodeos and cattle-wrangling. Added value All food and activities (hiking, riding, biking, fishing, tennis, clay-pigeon shooting and children's programmes) are included. Spa treatments and one-to-one tuition are extra. Price From £1,950 per person, per week based on six people sharing Crest, a three-bedroom, three-bathroom villa (peak price on application)

An estate in Bangsaray, Thailand Pamela Nicholson began by renting one house in the South of France 26 years ago; today her luxurious portfolio has a total of 77 properties. 'We have a waiting list of villas but we think it's important to visit each one every year and I want to keep the numbers manageable,' she says. The majority of her villas are in France, but she also has properties in Italy, Greece, Spain, Morocco and Haiti.

Of the three estate houses she handles in Thailand, The Tamarind, in the eastern Bangsaray region, is the largest. Set in three acres, it sleeps up to 20 (eight in the main house, four in the Bali House and the rest in Pool Villas), there's also an optional club-house annex (sleeping 12). Guests have access to the private Royal Thai Navy beach of Sai Kaew (three miles away). March and April are the best months to visit. Added value: The price includes 16 full-time staff, with a cook, two drivers and 24-hour security. There is a gym and floodlit tennis court. Price From £325 to £1,170 per person, per week based on 20 sharing

CONTEMPORARY VILLA: A chic beach house in Australia Owner of the Medusa, Sydney's first boutique hotel (opened in 1998), Terry Kaljo also represents a collection of superb beach houses and villas (mostly in Palm Beach, north Queensland and the NSW south coast). 'I always look for the wow factor,' says Kaljo. 'All my properties have a sense of place, whether on a beach, with sensational views or close to top restaurants and cultural venues.'

This contemporary villa is on Byron Bay, Australia's most eastern point and the setting for popular literary and jazz festivals. It sleeps eight and is near the protected waters of Wategos beach. Massive windows and terraces (one with a lap pool) make the most of the sea views. Added value The superb location, near the beach and only 10 minutes' walk from town, will suit guests who want to cut down on car use. Price From £638 per person per week, based on eight sharing (peak price on application). Note there's an additional £33 linen charge per bedroom

CASA MAL RIC: A rural farmhouse on Mallorca After many summer holidays spent on Mallorca, Heidi Thomas and her father Jim decided to pool their knowledge and start a villa-rental company on the island. Of their 90 properties, Thomas's top pick is Cas Mal Ric, a restored, 250-year-old farmhouse near the village of Cas Concos on the south-eastern coast.

Surrounded by beautiful, hilly countryside, it sleeps 10 and has a large swimming pool, tennis courts, a play area with a sandpit, an orchard, a bougainvillaea-shaded terrace and a barbecue area. The bathrooms are new but the rest of the house adheres to traditional island style (tiled floors, beamed ceilings) with original features such as the bread oven. Nearby activities include riding, sailing, golf and boat trips; the nearest market is in Santanyi (Wednesdays and Saturdays). Added value Free internet connection and a twice-weekly maid service Price From £130 to £490 per person per week, based on 10 sharing

KRUGEN: A summer house in Brittany Inspired by his passion for architecture and design, Alain Le Calvez founded his collection of seaside houses and chateaux four years ago. 'My focus is on comfort and tranquillity rather than top luxury,' he says, 'but all my 35 villas are special, and I know each one personally.'

Le Calvez's top pick is Krugen, a renovated manor house built as a summer retreat by a wealthy Parisian family in the 1920s. Numerous picture windows make the most of its exceptional setting on the rocky shoreline of Audierne Bay in southern Brittany. A sandy, nine-mile beach lies within 100 metres of the garden and the town of Saint-Guénolé is nearby. Local activities include surfing, sailing, diving, fishing, walking and excursions to fishing harbours. Added value End-of-stay cleaning is included in the basic rental price Price From £151 to £338 per person, per week based on 13 sharing

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, CV Travel started out as Corfu Villas (hence the name) in 1972. Greece is still a key destination, but its impressive 1,200-property portfolio now spans Europe, parts of Africa, the Middle East, India and Thailand. Philip Leighton handpicks villas for its Caribbean programme. 'Each one stands out in some way, whether for location, design, style, a distinctive pool, private beach or suitability for families,' he says.

Seagrape Cottage is one of just three houses on the 54-acre island of Little Thatch; one belongs to Jon and Katy, the discreet managers, the other to the owner, who is seldom there. Simply but stylishly furnished, it overlooks a white-sand, palm- backed beach. The villa kitchen can be pre-stocked on arrival, or it's a three-minute boat ride to the restaurants and shops at Soper's Hole on nearby Tortola. Activities include walking, kayaking, snorkelling or boat trips to nearby islands. Access is via Antigua. Added value Complimentary speed-boat shuttles; ice is delivered daily Price From £2,107 to £2,736 per person per week, based on two sharing

VILLA SRV14: A family retreat in spain Husband and wife team Nick (a former travel photographer) and Janette Gimbet set up their villa-rental company around eight years ago. Focusing on Europe 'for reasons of quality control', they represent 450 houses. Destinations include the South of France (particularly St Tropez), Mykonos, Mallorca, Tuscany, the Amalfi coast and Marbella.

Villa SRV14 is a fabulous, 17th-century farmhouse in Catalunya which sleeps six adults and six children. Although peacefully rural, it is just a short drive from Palamos beach, the Dalí museum and a choice of four Michelin-starred restaurants. Laid-back and rustic-chic in style (exposed stone walls, beamed ceilings), this is a great option for an extended family group, with a daily maid service and chef available by arrangement. Added value Complimentary riding lesson or half-day hack at a neighbouring riding school Price From £514 to £958 per person, per week based on 12 sharing contact Royal Villas (020 8133 9237; www.royalvillaseurope.com)

VILLA ACQUAMARINA: A Sicilian hideaway Huw and Rossella Beaugie met in Paris when Rossella was a cell biologist and Huw a mechanical engineer. The couple set up Think Sicily 10 years ago and now handle over 90 properties on the island and a new villa programme in Puglia. All the villas are exclusive to the company. Villa Acquamarina, which sleeps six, is on a 15-hectare nature reserve next to a secluded beach near Menfi. 'It's one of our most basic villas in terms of fittings and general style, but it's the sort of place I'd choose for a family holiday and be very happy with,' says Huw. Although the bedrooms and bathrooms are perfectly well furnished, the villa is more about outside living and there are wonderful views of sea, sand and dunes from the dining terraces. Added value Guests have use of a furnished, beachside pagoda and private beach volleyball court Price From £400 to £630 per person per week based on six sharing

A luxury villa in Tuscany Gualtiero Bracci has been renting properties for 10 years and has a portfolio of 150 in Italy, including the islands. They are divided into three categories according to the level of service on offer.

With its full-time staff (a maid/cook and caretaker), air conditioning and contemporary furnishings, Villa di Cerreto in Chianti falls into Bracci's top 'luxury' tier. It's a picture-perfect, 17th-century Tuscan farmhouse on a 60-acre estate with an infinity pool in the landscaped gardens with long views over the surrounding hills and vineyards. Despite its private position, there is a luxury hotel within 10 minutes' walk, where guests can use the gym, spa and restaurant. Siena is less than eight miles away. Added value The price includes breakfast and dinner preparation, five days per week Price From £857 to £1,004 per person per week, based on 14 sharing

CASA DIANA: A colonial villa in the Dominican Republic 'Our website is just the shop window,' says Judith Menier. 'We always prefer to discuss individual needs and fit clients to the villa, sometimes suggesting places people have never thought of.' Relaunched in 2007 with business partner Sarah Hutchins, SJ Villas showcases 200 properties on the website with hundreds more available.

Among the most recent acquisitions is Casa Diana, which Menier believes to be one of the finest private houses to rent in the Domnican Republic. Built in a grand colonial style with white-coral stone, it sleeps 12 and has wonderful sea views and an infinity pool, and is furnished with four-poster beds and an eclectic collection of antiques. There is a golf course and beach club with a restaurant nearby. Flights are via Antigua. Added value Live-in cook, housekeeper and butler; shopping and laundry services are included in the price Price From US$2,037 to US$2,625 per person per week, based on 12 sharing

VILLA LA MAURICIENNE: A thatched beach house on Mauritius More than 20 years after setting up her villa-rental company, Rosie Sutherland now handles around 60 properties, mainly in Mediterranean Europe, plus British-owned houses around the globe, notably in the USA and Morocco. Mauritius is a favourite partly because of her contacts there ('a good network of local people to look after clients is a key factor for me').

Villa La Mauricienne sleeps 10 and is one of Sutherland's more affordable properties on the island. She describes it as 'a fantastic house in an amazing place'. Quaint-looking, with a thatched roof, dining gazebo and small swimming pool, it's next to a beautiful stretch of beach at Poste Lafayette on the north-east coast. Added value The cook works every morning, bar Sunday, plus an hour in the afternoon. Two kayaks are included in the price Price From €560 to €788 per person per week, based on 10 sharing

LA MAISON DES BAUX: A village haven in Provence New Zealander Susie Marquis and her Scottish husband Edward have been in the villa-rental market for 25 years, opening The Villa Book in 2004. They now handle around 1,000 villas worldwide; the company has an office in the Provençal village of Maussane-les-Alpilles, and France is their biggest destination.

La Maison des Baux (which sleeps six) is one of Susie's favourite Provençal properties. Cleverly built into the rocky landscape, it has two water features, one in the living room. With fabulous views over olive groves and vineyards, 'it's a great place for out-of-season stays because there's so much to do in the area', she says. 'San Remy has a wonderful Wednesday market selling everything from bric-à-brac to food, there's a nine-hole golf club in Les Baux and, of course, superb vineyards are everywhere.' Added value Wine-tasting with a local expert is included in the price Price From £659 to £1,044 per person, per week based on six sharing

VILLA REVERIE: Beach bungalow on St Barts Adam Coats is in charge of Abercrombie & Kent's new Caribbean villa programme, which represents 65 villas on Anguilla, Mustique, St Barts and in the Bahamas. 'We've sourced good quality, well-equipped properties in top locations,' he says.

Of his more affordable villas, a personal favourite is three-bedroom Villa Reverie on St Barts. Next to the white-sand beach at St Jean, it sleeps six and you can opt to pay less for using just two bedrooms. The house is decorated in a cheerful seaside style and there are superb sea views from the decked terrace with its small Jacuzzi; several restaurants are within walking distance. Sailing, pilates and yoga classes are available. Access is via St Martin. Added value Car hire is included for rentals in June, September and October Price From £699 to £1,183 per person per week, based on six sharing

LOMBOK BEACH HOUSE

Villa consultant and agent Gratsos represents a collection of more than 25 luxurious houses. 'I try to find the best of its type,' she says. 'Some are quirkier than others, but all are distinctive and fit into their environment with both charm and personality.'

Among her favourites is the Lombok Beach House, comprising a handful of thatched pavilions in shady, tropical gardens. Sleeping 12 in six suites, it has a full-time staff of cooks, maids and drivers ('You don't have to lift a finger here,' Gratsos points out). With open gardens running down to the beach, the house has a huge pool and plenty of space; the chef prepares unsophisticated but delicious Indonesian food. Quieter than its sister island Bali, Lombok has some beautiful beaches. Flights are via Singapore or Bali. Added value: Rates include all staff and the use of a tennis court in the grounds